University of Puget Sound

The 2021-22 season marks the 10th year at the helm of Puget Sound crew head coach Aaron Benson. During the 2022 spring season, the Logger women placed second in the NWC Championship, and women's pair earned a silver medal during the WIRA Championships. Meanwhile, the Logger men claimed their ninth consecutive Meyer Cup title, and their fourth conseuctive Rainier Cup victory. 

Under his guidance, the Loggers are consistently one of the top two programs in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound often places All-American rowers, the most recent of whom is Alyssa Bebout '19. 

Benson was named the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year in 2015 after leading the women's crew to a conference title and its 13th consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships. In 2014, he guided the men to a team championship in the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference.

Since Benson came to Puget Sound in the fall of 2012, the women’s varsity eight has posted a win-loss record of 49-11 versus regional Division III competition. The overall men’s and women’s program has earned medals in five events at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships during his tenure.

Prior to joining the Loggers, Benson spent seven years as an assistant coach for the women's rowing team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In addition to his duties at MIT, Benson served as the Director of the USRowing Boston Development Camp for three years, helping numerous U-23 scullers earn medals at the USRowing Club National Championships.

Originally from Seattle, Benson began his passion for rowing at the Pocock Rowing Center. He attended Willamette University, where he rowed for four years. After graduating from Willamette, Benson was an assistant coach at Ithaca College in New York, helping lead the Bombers' women's crew to back-to-back NCAA Division III national championships in 2004 and 2005.

Benson holds a Bachelor's degree in exercise science from Willamette, and a Master's degree in exercise physiology from Ithaca. He lives in Tacoma with his wife and three sons.